Motor vehicle lock for a locking element of a motor vehicle

Abstract

A lock for a closure element and comprises a locking-mechanism arrangement having a latch, a catch and a catch-switching lever, wherein the latch can be pivoted, about a latch axis, into at least one locking position, in each of which it is retained in engagement with a locking part, and into an open position wherein the catch can be pivoted into an engagement position, in which the latch located in the respective locking position is locked by the catch so that it cannot pivot, about a catch axis, in its opening direction, and a disengagement position, in which the catch frees the latch in its opening direction, and wherein the catch-switching lever can be pivoted, about a catch-pivoting-lever axis, into an actuating position, in which a sensor is activated by the catch-switching lever, and into a neutral position, in which the sensor is not actuated by the catch-switching lever.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A motor-vehicle lock which is intended for a closure element of a motor vehicle and comprises:
 a locking-mechanism arrangement), wherein the locking-mechanism arrangement has, as its functional elements, a latch, a catch and a catch-switching lever, wherein the latch is configured to be pivoted into at least one locking position in each of which the latch is retained in engagement with a locking part, and into an open position, in which it frees the locking part, wherein the catch is configured to be pivoted into an engagement position, in which the latch located in the respective locking position is locked by the catch so that it cannot pivot in its opening direction, and a disengagement position, in which the catch frees the latch in its opening direction, and wherein the catch-switching lever is configured to be pivoted into an actuating position, in which a sensor is activated by the catch-switching lever, and into a neutral position, in which the sensor is not actuated by the catch-switching lever, wherein the locking-mechanism arrangement has a common spring element, and wherein the common spring element is arranged such that the spring element exerts a spring force on the latch, the catch and the catch-switching lever; and wherein the common spring element is arranged such that the spring element exerts a spring force on the latch in the direction of its opening position, on the catch in the direction of its engagement position and on the catch-switching lever in the direction of the catch. 
 
     
     
       2. The motor-vehicle lock according to  claim 1 , wherein the catch-switching lever is designed in the form of a multifunctional part which, in addition to performing a switching function in relation to the sensor for establishing the catch position, causes force to be transmitted from the spring element to the catch and provides support for the spring element. 
     
     
       3. The motor-vehicle lock according to  claim 1 , wherein the spring element is supported, on the one hand, on the latch and, on the other hand, on the catch-switching lever such that the latch and the catch-switching lever are prestressed in relation to one another. 
     
     
       4. The motor-vehicle lock according to  claim 1 , wherein the latch is prestressed into its open position, and wherein the catch is prestressed into its engagement position. 
     
     
       5. The motor-vehicle lock according to  claim 1 , wherein the force generated by the common spring element, and acting on the catch and the latch, decreases as opening of the latch increases. 
     
     
       6. The motor vehicle lock according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one locking position comprises a main locking position and a preliminary locking position. 
     
     
       7. The motor-vehicle lock according to  claim 4 , wherein the catch-switching lever is prestressed into its actuating position. 
     
     
       8. The motor vehicle lock according to  claim 1 , wherein the common spring element is arranged such that the spring force is transferred from the latch to the catch via the catch-switching lever.